In a cartel-run safe house just across the U.S.-Mexico border, a fentanyl dealer from Los Angeles, known as “Jay,” watches as cartel operatives prepare a shipment of the synthetic opioid. Wrapped in foil, sealed in plastic, and carefully hidden inside the fuel tank of a car, the lethal drug is readied for transport into the United States.
The house, blending in with the surrounding neighborhood, operates with extreme caution. Though no fentanyl is manufactured on-site, the cartel remains wary of drawing attention. The operatives work swiftly, speaking in hushed tones as they pack thousands of pills for distribution.
The fentanyl trade has become a focal point in international policy disputes, with the White House citing its smuggling as a key justification for increased tariffs on foreign goods. Former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to “wage war” on the cartels, introduced a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico to curb the flow of illicit drugs and unauthorized immigration. While some of these tariffs have been postponed until April 2, the fight against fentanyl remains a top priority for his administration.
BBC journalists were granted rare access to this cartel operation along the border and traveled into the U.S. to track the journey of these drugs to their end consumers. Despite efforts to crack down on trafficking, the demand for fentanyl remains high, according to Jay.
“Last time [Trump] was in office, he tried to stop it, and it never happened. There’s always going to be demand. And where’s the biggest demand? The United States. Lucky for us, we’re here at the border,” Jay said with a smirk.
The sheer volume of fentanyl flooding the U.S. has driven down prices significantly. According to Jay, a pill that once sold for $5 or $6 in Los Angeles now fetches just $1.50. Mexican authorities report that cartels have increasingly turned to fentanyl due to its potency and ease of production. Unlike traditional opiates derived from the opium poppy, fentanyl is fully synthetic, making it easier to manufacture and transport.
The devastating effects of fentanyl addiction have left a lasting impact on American society. Drug overdoses now claim more lives in the U.S. than gun violence or car accidents. Although overdose fatalities have declined—potentially due to increased access to Naloxone, a life-saving drug that reverses opioid overdoses—numbers remain alarming. From October 2023 to September 2024, there were 87,000 overdose deaths, down from 114,000 the previous year.
As the U.S. government continues its fight against fentanyl trafficking, the question remains: Can policy measures, such as tariffs and law enforcement crackdowns, truly curb the demand? For traffickers like Jay, the answer is clear—where there is demand, there will always be supply.
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